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As the PRC dismantles it’s zero-COVID policy measures, there is great optimism about the economy and, particularly, the HRI sector. Stakeholders expect a rebound in travel to fuel recovery in hotels, restaurants, and other outlets.

On December 28, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) published Announcement No. 131 of 2022, indicating a change in classification of COVID-19 controls and management was forthcoming. The Announcement states...

On September 23, 2022, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) published 2022 Special Announcement Number 88 amending the customs clearance declaration requirements for importers or consignees of non-cold chain products to require a declaration on whether “preventive disinfection has been implemented” (according to the “Standards for On-site Disinfection Evaluation During the COVID-19 Epidemic” (WS/T 774-2021).

A recent industry survey in one of China’s leading provinces for textile and apparel manufacturing highlights the negative impact of the PRC’s zero-tolerance COVID policy in the world’s largest cotton market and area economy. According to survey results, production estimates are down, costs are higher, and deliveries are delayed.

On April 6, the Hong Kong government announced that during precautionary testing at the point of import, the packaging sample of a Brazilian offal shipment tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

At a recent Beijing municipal press conference, authorities announced that effective April 1, 2022, imported cold-chain food products will be rejected if shipped into Beijing without prior inspection appointments at a Beijing Entry Checkpoint.

Hong Kong continues to take random tests on imports of chilled and frozen foods and their packaging for the COVID-19 virus.

On January 30, 2022, China's State Council released two updated technical guidelines for preventing and controlling COVID-19 in cold-chain food.

Detections of two COVID cases among Hong Kong drivers transporting vegetables from mainland created a backlog of vegetable trucks at the border and shortened Hong Kong vegetable supplies over the weekend.

The Hong Kong government ordered the culling of 2000 hamsters in Hong Kong. The order was issued over fears of an animal-to-human transmission of the COVID-19 virus after a pet shop saleswoman tested positive for the Delta variant, and samples collected from hamsters at the pet shop were also positive.

Hong Kong authorities reported a detection of COVID-19 virus on imported frozen cuttlefish from Malaysia. Detections were identified on the slice surface and its inner packaging during precautionary testing at the point of entry.

Seeking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus through imported foods, the Hong Kong government has been testing chilled and frozen foods and their packaging.